“You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go DO THEM.” – #NoFear14

When I was in college, I always hoped that someday I would be able to combine my skills, passions, and dreams and call it a career. I wanted my focus to be on LIVING in the moment, working for a cause, and using my gifts for the good of others rather than how to simply get by MAKING A LIVING for myself. I feel so privileged to have found that opportunity in the nonprofit world.

Do What You Love; Love What You Do: Why I Love Working for a Nonprofit

 1.     I get to flex my creative muscles. Nonprofits are always looking for new, fresh ways to promote their causes and fundraisers. As part of the marketing team, I get to be part of the brainstorming process. There’s never a dull moment and all ideas are welcome!

2.     I get to wear many hats. With a small staff, everyone pitches in to help. This requires understanding the ins and outs of your organization. I love that my every day is full of learning opportunities about finance, event planning, human resources, publicity and more so that I can understand how each aspect of our organization is working together in different yet equally important ways to further our mission.

3.     Every day is a surprise. Some days I’m in the office; some days I’m meeting with residents of our housing communities; some days I’m helping with events – the action is exhilarating!

4.     Work doesn’t feel like work. Every day I go to work at the United Way, I’m happy and eager to work in such a positive, nurturing environment toward a shared vision of a world in which all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. While I enjoy writing and designing creative solutions, something I am even more passionate about is when my work has the potential to positively impact others and make the world a better place.

5.     Being committed to a cause and the greater good. My coworkers, our board members and the community residents are all one big United family. Everyone is on the same page. We share the same vision, collaborate and encourage one another to help fuel social change for the local community today so that future generations can benefit tomorrow.

Clearly, I love what I do. Since I am so passionate about my organization’s cause that showing up every day truly doesn’t feel like “work,” I’ve decided that I’m just “making a living out of living.” I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be doing exactly what I’m supposed to do. I feel fortunate and grateful every day.

Want to LIVE UNITED and help support a great cause?

Bergen County’s United Way (BCUW) is turning lives around through our initiative to end homelessness and increase affordable housing opportunities for low income, senior and special needs populations throughout the county. To date, BCUW has built more than 150 units of the designated housing, with more than half of them for individuals with developmental disabilities – and with the support of donors, we’ll have the opportunity to build even more.

That’s why on April 3, 2014, BCUW is hosting its “Very Special Night” fashion show fundraiser to support our “Special Homes for Very Special People” housing endeavors. Twenty-one current residents with developmental disabilities will be modeling alongside escorts. Although we only have two more weeks until the event, some of the residents are eager for celebrities to escort them down the runway. One resident, Dan, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome and lives in an Allendale community, loves Southern-style cooking, so he made a video to request Chef Paula Deen as his escort. Other residents have requested Ashton Kutcher, Kate Upton, Jimmy Smits and Hoboken’s Kitchen Cousins. We are sharing the videos all over social media and hoping to get a few accepted invitations!

But we need YOUR help: Please share, email or tweet our Very Special models’ video requests (preferably with influential people and celebrities like Ellen, Kelly Ripa and the Today Show?!). You’d share a Buzzfeed article for a fleeting funny. Wouldn’t helping make someone Very Special’s wish come true for a lifetime of gratitude be even better?

Check out Dan’s video on YouTube! (also below!)

Follow Bergen County’s United Way on Twitter

Like Bergen County’s United Way on Facebook

Learn more at www.bergenunitedway.org